Long Beach State hosts the 21st annual Beach Invitational at Cerritos College for the final year before the meet permanently moves back to the school's renovated Jack Rose Track Stadium in 2016.

BIG WEST AT A GLANCE

Busy Week Ahead In The Big West: All nine Big West schools are in action this week, sending athletes to the Mt. SAC Relays with several others participating in the Bryan Clay Invitational and California Invite Combined Events. Others are sending individuals to the Cal State Los Angeles Twilight Open.

Long Beach State Hosts Beach Invitational: Long Beach State is hosting the 21st annual Beach Invitational on Friday and Saturday, welcoming over 100 colleges and universities to Cerritos College. This is the final year the Beach Invitational will be held at Cerritos College as the meet will return to Long Beach State’s own Jack Rose Track Stadium in 2016. LBSU is putting the finishing touches on its new track, which is scheduled for completion in May, 2015. The 49ers have hosted the Beach Invitational at Cerritos College since 2006. LBSU, which will have 64 athletes (35 men, 29 women) entered into its lone home meet, will face Big West competition from Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and Hawai‘i.
Long Beach State Men Ranked Third In West Region: One of the top teams in the West Region belongs to Long Beach State, according to the April 13 regional rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The 49er men are ranked No. 5 in the West Region with 509.13 points, trailing only Pac-12 programs Oregon, USC, Arizona and California, yet also ahead of UCLA, Stanford, Arizona State and Washington. UC Santa Barbara (No. 10), Cal Poly (No. 14) and UC Riverside (No. 15) are burrowed in among the top 15 as well.

UC Riverside Women Top Ranked Big West Team In West Region: The April 13 USTFCCCA rankings pegged UC Riverside as the Big West’s highest ranked women’s squad in the West Region. The Highlanders come in at No. 10. UC Davis is ranked No. 11.

National Marks Posted By Big West Athletes: According to the Track & Field Results Reporting System, Big West representatives have turned in several performances that rank among the nation’s top 25, including a handful in the top 10. Long Beach State junior Willie Alexander is the highest ranked Big West athlete in any event. He posted a mark of 25-2 in the long jump on March 7 at the Cal Opener, placing him No. 6 nationally. In addition, seniors Chris Low of Long Beach State and Seth Totten of UC Riverside rank No. 9 in the 800-meters and 5,000-meters with times of 1:47.56 and 13:51.20, respectively. On the women’s side, UC Davis senior Ashley Marshall is the highest ranked Big West athlete, checking in at No. 8 thanks to her time of 11.41 in the 100-meters on March 7 at the Cal Opener.
Big West Track & Field Championship Heads To Riverside: UC Riverside will host the Big West Track and Field Championships for the first time in school history. The UCR Track Stadium will be home to the multi-events portion of the meet (May 8-9) and the full portion (May 15-16).